Fine of over 3 million shekels: footwear chain Originals in trouble

The Competition Authority has published a consent decree against A.I. Il Ltd. (Originals), the official importer of Rockport in Israel, for blocking Israelis from accessing the brand's American website. The company will pay a fine of over 3 million shekels to the state treasury, without admitting to the alleged acts. The decree is open for public comments for 30 days.

The Competition Authority has published a consent decree against A.I. Il Ltd., known as Originals and operator of the Originals and Factory 54 chains, which is the official importer of the Rockport footwear brand in Israel. According to the Authority, the company collaborated with the global brand owner to block Israeli users from accessing the American Rockport website, redirecting them to the local Israeli site. This move was intended to prevent Israelis from comparing prices and making personal imports, amid price gaps between the Israeli and American markets. Following an Authority investigation, access to the American website was restored. Now, under the consent decree, Originals will pay a fine of over 3 million shekels to the state treasury, without admitting to the alleged acts. The case is part of a broader policy by the Competition Authority to protect personal and parallel imports, since the amendment to the Competition Law in September 2023. The decree is open for public comments for 30 days.